Boat with pivotally mounted detachable wheel assemblies

ABSTRACT

A boat provided with a two-wheel assembly pivotally and detachably fastened to each side of the boat for supporting the boat in substantially horizontal position on land, without other supporting means, for cooperating in transportation of the boat on land and for launching the boat. The two wheels of each assembly are rotatably mounted in tandem fashion on a single frame pivotally mounted on the boat, and each assembly includes locking means for maintaining the wheeled frame in boat supporting position, the locking means being removable to permit pivotal movement and removal of the wheel assembly.

United States Patent [1 1 Helbig [54] BOAT WITH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DETACHABLE WHEEL ASSEMBLIES [76] Inventor: Jim D. Helhigz ll484 west 68th Avenue, Arvada, Colo. 80004 [22] Filed: Sept. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 181,043

[52] U.S. Cl. ..9/1 T, 280/414 A [51] Int. Cl. ..B63c 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..9/1 T; 114/123;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,271,798 9/1966 Zoretic ..9/l TR 51 May 22,1973

Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Stuart M. Goldstein Attorney-Bertha L. MacGregor [5 7] ABSTRACT 8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED m2 2 I973 INVENTOR. JIM D. HE L B1 6 I I I l ATTORNEY BOAT WITH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED DETACHABLE WHEEL ASSEMBLIES This invention relates to a boat provided with wheel assemblies. A two-wheel assembly is fastened to each of the two sides of the boat for supporting the boat on land and facilitating launching of the boat, as well as cooperating in transportation of the boat while supported on its wheel assemblies without other supporting or lifting means.

The main object of the invention is to provide a two wheel assembly for each side of the boat for supporting it without requiring stern or bow supports to maintain the substantially horizontal position of the boat, wherein the two wheels of each assembly are rotatably mounted in tandem fashion on a single frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide means pivotally mounting the wheel carrying frame on the boat and means locking the frame in boat supporting position, said locking means being detachable to permit pivotal movement and removal of the wheel assemblies from the boat.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a boat provided with wheel assemblies embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational end view of the same.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational end view showing the wheel assembly at one side of the boat in pivotally raised position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the boat has rigidly fastened to each of its two side walls two pairs of brackets, each pair of brackets comprising two horizontally aligned upper angle plates 11 and two horizontally aligned lower angle plates 12. Each upper angle plate 11 has the inner end of its horizontal angle member rigidly connected to the inner end of the horizontal angle member of the lower angle plate 12 by a substantially vertical bar 13 perpendicular to the angle members. The bars 13 of each pair of brackets are parallel, with their major proximate surfaces spaced apart to form a channel between them for reception of one arm of the wheel assembly described hereinafter. The angle plates 11 of each pair may be mounted on a backing plate 14 and the angle plates 12 of each pair may be mounted on a similar backing plate securely fastened to the boat wall.

The wheel assembly for each side of the boat comprises a generally U-shaped frame consisting of a horizontally disposed rod or bar 15 terminating in flat ends 16, and a pair of arms 17 rigidly connected at their lower ends to the ends 16 of the horizontal rod or bar 15. Wheels 18 and 19 are rotatably mounted on shafts 20 mounted in the rod or bar 15. The wheels 18 and 19 of each wheel assembly are spaced apart longitudinally of the boat 10 to support the boat without other supporting means at either the stem or bow of the boat.

Each of the arms 17 of each assembly, located in the channel formed between the bars 13 of each pair of brackets, is pivotally mounted in said brackets by a pivot pin 21 which extends through horizontally aligned apertures in the adjacent bars 13 and the arm 17 of the assembly. The pivot pin 21 preferably is provided with a handle at one end and is apertured at the opposite end for reception ofa retaining pin 22, the latter being tied by a wire 23 to the handle of the pin to avoid loss of the pin 22. Another pin, designated 24, similar to the pin 21, extends through horizontally aligned apertures in the bars 13 and arm 17, and serves to lock the wheel assembly arms 17 in intended position between the bars 13. The pin 24 also has a handle at one end and an aperture in the opposite end for re ception of a retaining pin 25 tied to the handle of the pin 24 by a wire 26. The upper ends of the arms 17 are cutaway so as to avoid interference with pivotal movement of the arms on pivot pin 21.

When the boat is on land, the wheel assemblies at the two sides of the boat support it as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The boat may be transported by being towed by a motor vehicle without requiring any lifting or other supporting means. The boat may be launched while thus supported on the wheel assemblies, and when adrift the pin 24 is removed, allowing the arms 17 to move pivotally on the pin 21 to raise the wheels l8, 19, as shown in FIG. 3, and be removed after withdrawal of the pivot pin 21.

The tandem arrangement of the two wheels of each assembly on a single frame serves to provide very efficient support for the boat, and also to transmit load to the frame and other wheel when one wheel encounters an obstruction in moving over land.

I claim:

1. A boat provided with pivotally mounted detachable wheel assemblies at opposite sides of the boat, comprising a. a boat,

b. two pairs of brackets rigidly fastened to each side of the boat in positions spaced apart longitudinally of the boat, each bracket having a substantially vertical channel therein,

c. a frame having a pair of arms spaced apart for reception of the arms in said bracket channels, said arms being connected by a substantially horizontal rod,

d. a pair of wheels spaced apart longitudinally of the boat rotatably mounted on said frame rod,

e. means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the brackets, and

f. means locking said arms in the bracket channels to maintain the wheel assemblies in boat supporting positions.

2. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 1,

in which each pair of the brackets comprises two spaced apart upper and lower horizontally aligned angle plates and bars perpendicular to the angle plates connecting the upper and lower angle plates and forming a channel between the bars for reception of one of the frame arms.

3. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 1, in which the means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the brackets comprises a pivot pin which extends through apertures in the brackets and an arm.

4. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 2, in which the means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the. brackets comprises a pivot pin which extends through apertures in the bracket bars and through an arm.

5. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 2, in which the means locking the arms in the bracket channels comprises a locking pin which extends through apertures in an arm and in the bracket bars below the pivot pin.

6. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 5, in which the pivot pin and the locking pin each have a handle at one end and an aperture near the opposite of the longitudinal center of each side of the boat end for reception of a retaining pin. to support the boat on land in substantially hori- A boat Provided with Pivotally mounted detach Zontal position without other supporting means, able e assemblies at pp sides of the boat e. means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the Compnsmg brackets, and

a. a boat,

b. brackets rigidly fastened to each side of the boat in positions spaced apart longitudinally of the boat near the Center semblies in boat supporting positions.

c U Shaped frames having upwardly directed arms 0 8. Thennventron defined by claim 7, in which the spaced apart for attachment to said brackets, means pwetany eem'leetmg the frame arms to the d. a pair of wheels spaced apart longitudinally of the brackets and the means locking said arms to P boat rotatably mounted on each said frame, the p votal movement are removable. wheels of each pair being located at opposite sides f. means locking said arms to prevent pivotal movement of the frame and to maintain the wheel as- 

1. A boat provided with pivotally mounted detachable wheel assemblies at opposite sides of the boat, comprising a. a boat, b. two pairs of brackets rigidly fastened to each side of the boat in positions spaced apart longitudinally of the boat, each bracket having a substantially vertical channel therein, c. a frame having a pair of arms spaced apart for reception of the arms in said bracket channels, said arms being connected by a substantially horizontal rod, d. a pair of wheels spaced apart longitudinally of the boat rotatably mounted on said frame rod, e. means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the brackets, and f. means locking said arms in the bracket channels to maintain the wheel assemblies in boat supporting positions.
 2. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 1, in which each pair of the brackets comprises two spaced apart upper and lower horizontally aligned angle plates and bars perpendicular to the angle plates connecting the upper and lower angle plates and forming a channel between the bars for reception of one of the frame arms.
 3. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 1, in which the means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the brackets comprises a pivot pin which extends through apertures in the brackets and an arm.
 4. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 2, in which the means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the brackets comprises a pivot pin which extends through apertures in the bracket bars and through an arm.
 5. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 2, in which the means locking the arms in the bracket channels comprises a locking pin which extends through apertures in an arm and in the bracket bars below the pivot pin.
 6. The boat and wheel assemblies defined by claim 5, in which the pivot pin and the locking pin each have a handle at one end and an aperture near the opposite end for reception of a retaining pin.
 7. A boat provided with pivotally mounted detachable wheel assemblies at opposite sides of the boat, comprising a. a boat, b. brackets rigidly fastened to each side of the boat in positions spaced apart longitudinally of the boat near the center, c. U-shaped frames having upwardly directed arms spaced apart for attachment to said brackets, d. a pair of wheels spaced apart longitudinally of the boat rotatably mounted on each said frame, the wheels of each pair being located at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of each side of tHe boat to support the boat on land in substantially horizontal position without other supporting means, e. means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the brackets, and f. means locking said arms to prevent pivotal movement of the frame and to maintain the wheel assemblies in boat supporting positions.
 8. The invention defined by claim 7, in which the means pivotally connecting the frame arms to the brackets and the means locking said arms to prevent pivotal movement are removable. 